M38 Bumper

aforests · Post by **aforests** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:57 am

Are the bumpers on early m38's supposed to be straight or curved?

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:23 am

curved

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:31 am

Aren't any early / late M38 Bumpers. There are just M38 bumpers WO# 801386, ORD# 7372818.

The M38 bumper was continued in use on the M38A1 in 1952 but by 53 the M38A1 started using WO# 808969, ORD# 8331831 which is wider than the M38 bumper.

When the Army allow the M38 bumper to completely run out of stock it serviced the M38 in the field with the wider M38A1 bumper.

G740 · Post by **G740** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:48 pm

The bumper is straight until it gets to the very end and then it is curved. It should not be curved like the one in the photo along the entire length.
John

aforests · Post by **aforests** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:03 pm

I'm getting confused now. When I asked if the bumper should be straight or curved I meant should the entire length of the bumper be straight without a 'bow' or not? If you look at the length of the bumper in the picture you will see what I am talking about.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:25 pm

The bumper between the frame rails is straight and has a flat wood insert bolted very solid inside of it.

Only the last few inches on each end are slightly curved.

aforests · Post by **aforests** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:00 am

Thanks

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:40 pm

My Bad, Aaron. I missed the visual clue that your bumper was curved the entire length. If you need i'll get some closer shots of my bumper and the wood filler detail. Just say the word..

aforests · Post by **aforests** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:07 pm

Rick, that would be helpful.

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 2:03 pm

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules/gall ... .sized.jpg
http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules/gall ... .sized.jpg
The top link shows the curve detail.
The bot link is a poor foto of the wood insert.

PM'd ya w/event info in your area you might be interested in.

Post by **wesk** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:56 pm

Aaron, As you can see only the last few inches are curved. Even the M38A1 wide bumper is exactly the same in the last 3" at the tip. Otherwise both are completely straight across the frame rails.

In your photo I see a heavily worked by heat and hammer bumper that was straightened the hard way and now is very deformed.